Kiwi filmmaker-actor Taika Waititi, and Kiwi actor Temuera Morrison, best known as Jango Fett from the "Star Wars" movies, have joined the cast of Warner Bros. "Green Lantern".

Production begins this week in New Orleans on the 3D feature, which sees Martin Campbell directing Ryan Reynolds as the DC superhero.

Waititi plays the best friend of Hal Jordan, the test pilot who comes to wear the super-powered ring of the interplanetary police force known as the Green Lantern Corps.

Morrison is playing Abin Sur, a member of the Corps who is instrumental in Jordan becoming the superhero.

Donald De Line and Greg Berlanti are producing. The movie is set for a June 17, 2011 release.

Waititi, repped by CAA, first gained attention for writing and directing "Two Cars, One Night," which earned him an Oscar nomination in 2005. His first feature, "Eagle vs. Shark," won him best screenplay at the US Comedy Arts Festival and landed him work directing episodes of "Flight of Conchords."

Waititi continued his indie career with "Boy," which after three years of development, premiered at this past Sundance Film Festival. It was "Boy" that caught the attention of Campbell and Warners, which led to him being cast in "Lantern."

Wow! Go Taika! This is kind of a big deal and totally explains all his tweets from New Orleans. This sounds so mainstream and he's going to get a lot of exposure from it. I just wish they had done better than Ryan Reynolds. At least the whole cast is easy on the eyes even if its does turn out to be your standard super hero flick.

So that's what he's doing hanging out and about in New Orleans! Not that I don't think New Orleans isn't a blast if you have no specific reason to be there... seems like a great project for him though.

Aw, bless It seems like missing the premiere is weighing on him a bit, but I'm sure it's worth it for the opportunity he's getting. And I'm sure it helps that he got to attend the screening at his home marae, which would have been the most important one for him